When should axillary drains be removed? A meta-analysis of time-limited versus volume controlled strategies for timing of drain removal following axillary lymphadenectomy

Separate axillary incision for surgery of axillary lymph node can decrease drain amount and days to drain removal of the breast in direct-to-implant breast reconstruction

PURPOSE

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) can be performed either with a separate axillary incision or through the mastectomy incision. The authors hypothesized that after SLNB or ALND through a single incision, connection of the axilla with mastectomy pocket could increase drainage. This study investigated whether a separate incision decreases drainage amount and duration in implant-based breast reconstruction.

METHODS

Medical records of breast cancer patients who underwent nipple-sparing or skin-sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction with prosthesis from March 2018 to February 2021 in a single tertiary center were reviewed. Demographic data, intraoperative details, and postoperative complications were reviewed. Breast drains were removed if the drain amount was less than 30cc for two consecutive days. Total breast drain amount, duration until removal, and prolonged drainage were compared with multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 206 patients were included in the study, with separate incisions placed in 145 breasts and a single breast incision placed in 70 breasts. Mean duration and amount until drain removal were 12.8 ± 4.9 days and 817 ± 520 cc in the single incision group, respectively, and 9.9 ± 3.1 days and 434 ± 228 cc in the separate incision group, respectively Separate incision placement (p < 0.001), lower mastectomy weight (p < 0.001), and prepectoral plane of insertion (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with less drain amount and duration. None-separate incision placement (p = 0.01) and preoperative radiation therapy (p = 0.023) were significant factors for prolonged drainage.

CONCLUSION

Placing a separate incision for axillary surgery during mastectomy and immediate implant-based reconstruction can decrease both drain amount and duration and reduce the risk of prolonged drainage.

Impact of Topical Epinephrine with Xylocaine on Drainage After Axillary Lymph Node Dissection: A Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION

We evaluated the impact of topical epinephrine with xylocaine on drainage after axillary lymph node dissection.

METHODS

Fifty-two women were randomized into two groups, epinephrine with xylocaine drainage (ED) and conventional drainage group (CD). The amount of drainage, duration of drainage catheter, incidence of seroma formation and wound infection were noted.

RESULTS

The mean total drainage volume was less in ED group as compared to CD group (195 ml vs. 353 ml; p = .002). Drainage catheter was removed earlier in ED group as compared to CD group (5.07 + / - 0.99 days vs. 6.65 + / - 1.07 days; p = 0.0001). The incidence of seroma and wound infection was similar in two groups.

CONCLUSION

Topical epinephrine with xylocaine after axillary lymph node dissection results in significantly decreased drainage volume and duration of drainage.

Suction Drain Volume following Axillary Lymph Node Dissection for Melanoma-When to Remove Drains? A Retrospective Cohort Study

Postoperative complications such as seroma formation and wound-site infection occur following completion axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for melanoma. We analyzed the impact of time-to-drain removal and drainage volume on seroma formation after ALND. We retrospectively analyzed data from 118 patients after completion ALND for melanoma. Primary endpoints were daily amount of drainage volume, seroma formation and time-to-drain removal. Secondary endpoints included patient-related, disease-specific and perioperative parameters as well as the number of histologically analyzed lymph nodes and surgical complications graded by the Clavien−Dindo classification (CDCL). Statistical analyses were performed using logistic regression models. Drain removal around the 8th postoperative day was statistically associated with a lower risk for the occurrence of seroma formation (p < 0.001). Patients with an increased drainage volume during the early postoperative days were more prone to develop seroma after drain removal. With 49% (CDCL I and II), most complications were managed conservatively, while only 5.9% (CDCL III) required revision surgery (CDCL overall: 55.9%). ALND is a safe procedure with a low rate of severe CDCL III type of complications. To decrease seroma evacuation, our results imply that drains should be removed around the 8th postoperative day to reduce the risk of infection, readmission or prolonged hospitalization.

Does chemotherapy or radiotherapy affect the postoperative complication in breast cancer patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with tissue expander?

BACKGROUND

Immediate breast reconstruction with tissue expander in breast cancer patients who were expected to receive adjuvant therapy, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, has been a topic of debate. Postoperative complications from tissue expander procedures can delay the timing of adjuvant treatment and subsequently increase the probability of recurrence. The purpose of this study was to identify the impact of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on postoperative complications in patients who underwent immediate reconstruction (IR) using tissue expander.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of 1081 breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy and IR using tissue expander insertion between 2012 and 2017 in Samsung Medical Center. The patients were divided into two groups based on complications (complication group vs. no complication group). Complication group was regarded to have surgical removal or conservative treatment based on clinical findings such as infection, capsular contracture, seroma, hematoma, rupture, malposition, tissue viability, or cosmetic problem. The complication group had 59 patients (5.5%) and the no complication group had 1022 patients (94.5%).

RESULTS

In univariate analysis, adjuvant radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy were significantly associated with postoperative complications. In multivariate analysis, however, only higher pathologic N stage was significantly associated with postoperative complications (p < 0.001). Chemotherapy (p = 0.775) or radiotherapy (p = 0.825) were not risk factors for postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

IR with tissue expander after mastectomy may be a treatment option even when the patients are expected to receive adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy. These results will aid patients who are concerned about the complications of IR caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy determine whether or not to have IR.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Patients were selected and registered retrospectively, and medical records were evaluated.